1. If you have recently registered with a gmail email address, you must contact me, as gmail will not forward our confirmation email to you. Contact me and jim@trishieldperformance.com to complete your registration.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. In and effort to reduce the spam on the site, several years ago I had went to a program where I manually approve each and every new registration. This approval gives you full access to the site, to pictures, and to post, among other things. To be able to enjoy the full potential of the board for you, you need to be fully registered.. and that's easy.. Just send an email to me at jim@trishieldperformance.com and I will verify your registration. This policy will remain in effect indefinitely, as it has completely eliminated the bad actors from our site, who would spam and hack it, once they gained access. Thanks JW
    Dismiss Notice
  3. The "Group Buy" for the 1967-68 Deluxe Steering wheel recasting is now officially "Open". Now is the time to start sending in the wheels. The latest date that the wheels must be received by Kochs is 31 March 2025 The cost for each wheel is $750. The only "up front cost" is your shipping the wheel. If you send in more than one wheel, each additional wheel will cost $700. Shipping and insurance to Kochs and return shipping will be extra. You will be contacted by Teresa to make payment for the wheel(s) and return shipping and insurance when your wheel(s) is complete. The shipping will be factored on your delivery address and insurance. I will be sending the contact information all of you have sent me to Teresa at Kochs. Send in your wheels, horn pad and hardware and paint color sample if applicable. Please include: First and Last Name Shipping Address Phone number email address V8Buick "Member Name" Wheel Color (SEE THE BOTTOM FOR WHEEL COLOR) Pease read the "shipping to Kochs" below. There are two addresses. One for USPS Mailing One for FedEx and UPS shipping You can use USPS/Mail, UPS or FedEx to send in your core. Use the appropriate address depending on what service you use to ship. If you use USPS/Mail ship to: Koch's P.O. Box 959 Acton, CA 93510 Attn: Teresa If you use UPS or FedEx ship to: Koch's 7650 Soledad Canyon Road Acton CA 93510 Attn: Teresa Kochs Contact: Teresa (661) 268-1341 customerservice@kochs.com Wheel Color If you wheel is Black, you can list that in your information you send in with your wheel. For colored wheels, please contact Teresa about specifics for wheel color if you do not send in a color sample to match. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you to everyone for your participation in making this a reality. And "Thank You" Jim Weise, for allowing and facilitating this project! Michael .................... to remove this notice, click the X in the upper RH corner of this message box
    Dismiss Notice

Lifter bore and valve relocation questions.

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by The Riv, Feb 28, 2010.

  1. The Riv

    The Riv Urban Legend

    I've been contemplating this, and hopefully someone can shed
    some light on this for me. Question 1: Is it possible to enlarge the lifter
    bore diameter (while reinforcing the block area) to run a larger
    BB Ford or Chrysler tappet? Reason being, with a wider lifter, a more aggressive (higher lift) cam lobe profile could be ground onto a Buick cam core, while keeping overall cam duration relatively short compared to
    an .842 lifter with equal lift. Second question: Is it feasible, with
    430 heads, to plug and relocate the intake valve guides to run say
    a 2.225" valve? Sounds a bit radical, but my mind sorta works weird that way.
    If this question is waaay outta the ball park, feel free to can it. Many thanks
    for any insight, John.
     
  2. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    John, good question.

    Unforunately the big block Buick's castings are problematic already with what we have, especially so with core shift. I've not heard of anyone running larger diameter lifters.

    Others will chime in hopefully.

    Devon
     
  3. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Some years ago,Kenne-Bell experimented with mushroom lifters which basicly did the same thing as larger diameter lifters without boring the lifter bore.The lifters had to be installed from the bottom.I never ran them but I knew of 2 motors near me that did,and the gain was minimal.
    gary
     
  4. Daves 67 GS

    Daves 67 GS Active Member

    I did this and have not had a problem for 8 years I think that I used big block ford had to change the lifter guts to make it work.Been a long time but if I remember right I but G.M.lifter guts in to them. DAVE
     
  5. RG67BEAST

    RG67BEAST Platinum Level Contributor

    As for valve relocation a stock Buick head intake port's minimum cross sectional area will be the limiting factor for head flow. On a stock head (all years) this is just after the pushrod pinch just before the short side radius. Even a big port head (that is the biggest) ported to the max the intake's min. cross sectional area is way short of a se TA head where the min. cross sectional area is actually the runner itself rather than the pushrod pinch. There was a post where even on a highly ported TA TE raised intake port head flowing big #'s anything over 2.19" did not net a gain due to the 455 bore size.
    Not to say you may not get some gain but it is alot less work/coin to go with what's proven. I would either use properly ported stock heads with stg1 valves (there is quite few threads on this to DIY) or go TA aluminum heads with professional porting/valve size for the application. But that's just MO.
    Edelbrock has some heads on the market too but have yet to work on one so I have no opinion on them.
    Ray
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2010
  6. The Riv

    The Riv Urban Legend

    Many thanks for the replies. I have a great set of ported 430
    heads on the car, but have 4 or more sets out in the tool shed.
    Several are cracked between the spring pads, and I was staring
    at 'em one day wondering what if. Realizing that there is around
    300 cfm flow potential (for the intake side) pretty much dismisses
    the reason to do it I suppose anyway. Thanks again. Great forum,
    by the way. Should have signed up a long time ago!
     
  7. The Riv

    The Riv Urban Legend

    It's been a while, but it seems to me Crower used to offer
    mushroom lifters. Sure makes it a pain to do an in-car cam
    change, doesn't it?!
     
  8. K0K0

    K0K0 Jamie

    A couple of Buick guys here had a iron head intake ported( just the one port) and a 2.19 valve in it and it did flow 300.
    I'm not advising you to go this route just telling the info i saw.
    Jamie
     
  9. Michael Evans

    Michael Evans a new project

    It seems to me that it would be possable to enlarge the lifter bores. The major thing I can think of is that you will need to keep them in a stright line.

    A friend of mine has the jig to put lifter bore liners in a BBC for his milling mechine that cost him $2500.00

    I am just saying it can be done for the right money.

    For the heads:

    That sounds like something TA does with it's stage three and four heads (off set valve guides) to be able to install larger valves in their heads.
     
  10. Mr Big

    Mr Big Silver Level contributor

    Yes, and apparently that was somewhat of a disappointment, with only minimal gain.
     
  11. blown455

    blown455 Pit crew

    If you are going to spend that much time and money for somthing that might work or not. why not just buy an aluminium block. stage 3 and 4 heads valves are moved but provides minimal gain because bore is to small.
     
  12. The Riv

    The Riv Urban Legend

    I've refinanced once, and if I did it again for the block (and
    what the heck) a set of heads, she'd leave me. Which would
    give me more spending money for the car. I could cure painted
    parts in the oven again. Or use the dish washer to clean parts.
    And build engines in the spare bedroom again. Hmmmmm.........
     
  13. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    I have an NOS KB mark7m cam and NOS mushroom lifters.
    Lifters are Engle brand. And seem pretty lite, although I have not weighed them yet.

    Cam specs are .643/.643 and 288/288
    The lobes look just like a roller cam...
     
  14. 70ApolloStaged

    70ApolloStaged Well-Known Member

    Another idea for the machinist gurus(hopefully not a thread jack. Just more to chew on.

    Is there enough MATERIAL with a lifter bore brace of course, to open up the lifter bores and bush them for Chevy size lifters.

    Reason= Everyone knows roller lifters are available for the Buick. But for us budget guys, if it was possible to bush the bores and drill the proper size metering hole in the bushing, couldn't you get around needing shrouded rollers and then be able to use dime a dozen Chevy roller lifter, which is lighter and more common in case of breakage at the track.

    Just bouncing ideas around. You really don't want to hear that I called New Century( I got offered a RAGING STEAL of a deal on a BBC 4.84 bore space shortblock) about whether boring one of their blocks and offsetting the sleeves to make them Buick 4.75 bore space was possible.

    Reason= BBC race bottom end durability with Buick power producing top end. I know it'd be a hybrid but the power making stuff would be Buick. Just love that 3000hp capable CHEAP (for this deal) reliability and parts, once again, availability.
     
  15. blown455

    blown455 Pit crew

    If you bush the bore you cut off oil to the main...
     
  16. Michael Evans

    Michael Evans a new project

    You think if he charges over $500.00 to do this, he has thought of that?

    The guy I know that does it has made a engine out of a big block of aluminum.

    I think he knows his stuff.
     
  17. The Devil

    The Devil Well-Known Member

    I have my machinist do this all the time, bore the lifter bores for the .843 o/d Ford lifters. I see NO reason to bore and bush a lifter bore, only make 'em fit a slightly larger lifter.

    I learned this from Dave Ray, when he did my first 215 engine.

    Regards,

    Milton
     
  18. 70ApolloStaged

    70ApolloStaged Well-Known Member

    I understand that. But, isn't the problem with roller lifters in a Buick the issue with bleeding oil pressure due to the open roller wheel. Hence the need for a shrouded roller lifter to cure the problems. When I suggest bushing the bores for a Chevy lifter would drilling the proper size metering hole in the bushing to control this bleed off not work?

    Just curious. I understand machining and the steps for a Buick, but this has always baffled me. Am I missing something on the way the lifter is fed?
     
  19. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Chevrolets run an .842 lifter, just like the Buicks.. I have used Chev lifters in a 455 many times.

    As far as roller lifters.. well, they don't make Buick roller lifters... just like they don't really make Buick solid lifters.

    What has been used in the past is derivatives out of the parts book, of other make lifters..

    Stock blocks require a fully shrouded roller lifter, or you will uncover the main galley with a big lift roller, and bleed of a ton of oil pressure.

    There is no cheap easy way to get around the facts of life, when it comes to a roller cam in a BBB.. with the iron block. It's expensive.

    The TA block will open up a whole host of new possiblities, but the words "budget" and "aluminum aftermarket block" don't really go together..

    My advice?... I don't mind "out of the box" thinking.. but..

    Don't try and re-invent the wheel, we have all been there and done that. Spend the money on a solid bottom end, and the best heads and porting you can afford.. that's where the power is. Gains from mushroom lifters, and/or larger diamerter lifters, with aggressive ramp flat tappet cams, are minimal at best, and the cost/benefit ratio is really bad.

    In your case, the best wizard magic you can do with the cam and lifters, might be worth 1/4 of what a good set of ported aluminum heads would produce in power gain.

    You would only go to those lengths if you were running a class with restrictive rules, and had to get everything you could out of a particular combo.

    JW
     
  20. 70ApolloStaged

    70ApolloStaged Well-Known Member

    I hear ya on the maxing out a combo. For me, all that's left is to get a high dollar crank I'm not willing to spend the big money on a crank in a stock block application. Aftermarket block will cure my ills so that's what the savings are being accumulated for.

    Just looking to see if we can "improve" in an area where Buicks are waaaaayy behind other brands.... Expense. I don't need a larger lifter or a bigger cam. I want the roller lifters for their friction reduction, not worrying about "zinc oils" and other reasons. I was more thinking a bushing that covered the main galley and opening the hole up to accept a bushing for the .842 lifter. Unshrouded Chevy lifters are lighter and plentiful. Only asking to see if a setu could be done that in the end would allow the Buick community to take another step towards modern tech(roller cams, even small ones in hydraulic applications are pretty much the norm now) and save money too.


    PS: I always think outside the box. I was running nitrous when everybody was giving the "OMG, your gonna blow it up." speech to me 20 years ago at the Nats when I was told I had to stay all motor. I didn't bother racing and just had a great time just spectating. Same motor is still running and has been upgraded as I go and is in my current car.
     

Share This Page